Translator: _Min_
This morning, news came from Great Xia Affiliated High School that Ji Qingwei might aim for a score of 700 in the Seven School Joint Examination.
Achieving 700 points in the Joint Examination would surely secure a place in the top fifty of next yearâs International Joint Examination.
A student capable of entering the top fifty would be heavily invested by any school.
Northern State No. 1 Middle School, known for its humanities courses, had not seen such an exceptional talent in the sciences for a long time.
The director of admissions sighed somewhat nostalgically.
Fortunately, he and the principal had personally delivered the exam papers to the city of Sijiu and successfully recruited Si Fuqing to Northern State No. 1 Middle School.
Even if they couldnât compete with a genius like Ji Qingwei, Northern State No. 1 Middle School could still shine among the schools.
After Si Fuqing collected her exam pass, she looked up, âWhy shouldnât I aim for first place?â
âYou may not be aware, but a genius emerged in Sijiu during the first half of the year,â the director of admissions lowered his voice, âbreaking the record of the Seven School Joint Examination with a score of 680.â
Si Fuqing pondered, â680?â
âDonât underestimate that 680. Scoring 680 in the Seven School Joint Examination is harder than scoring 750 in the college entrance exam,â the director shook his head, âThis person is a true genius.â
Si Fuqing nodded, âMay I know who this genius you speak of is?â
âThe second miss of the Ji family, Ji Qingwei,â the director sighed, âAh, some people are born winners, with family backgrounds and personal abilities far surpassing their peers. We ordinary folks shouldnât even bother to compare.â He thought these words would make Si Fuqing accept her fate.
Instead, she seemed even more composed, chuckling lightly, âThen I have even more reason to aim for first place.â
The director was startled, âMiss Si?â
âRelying on oneâs own abilities is what makes a true genius,â Si Fuqing nodded,
âIâm quite interested in testing whether this genius is as formidable as you say.â
The director did not expect to incite Si Fuqingâs fighting spirit but wouldnât discourage her, âGood! Do your best in tomorrowâs literature and mathematics exams! â
Though he said this, he didnât harbor much hope.
Ji Qingwei, due to health issues, was only registered as a student at Great Xia
Affiliated High School.
Last year, Northern State No. 1 Middle School was overshadowed by Great Xia Affiliated High School.
With Ji Qingwei emerging from Great Xia Affiliated High School this year, the enrollment rate for Northern State No. 1 Middle School next year did not look promising.
The director sighed again and saw Si Fuqing out.
Meanwhile, in Sijiu City,
JI Xingzhi, donning his old swindler attire and a fake beard, pushed a bicycle hung with various knives to the Ji familyâs home.
The Ji familyâs location was secluded, unlike other major households. Clearing his throat and ready to call out, JI Xingzhi was already approached by someone.
Ji Qingyao noticed the knives on his bicycle, pausing briefly in admiration, âAre you a knife peddler?â
Having grown up in the Thousand Army Alliance, her perspective was naturally unlike that of the ordinary second generations of the nobility in the Sijiu City.
Knife peddlers, part of the Yin-Yang and Five Elements world, didnât sell knives for money but would leave behind a mysterious prophecy.
They would reappear to collect their fee once the prophecy was fulfilled.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
In the last century, knife peddlers were popular, with many peasants seeking a knife in exchange for a prosperous harvest.
But as society advanced technologically, knife peddlers nearly vanished, leaving only charlatans.
Ji Qingyao picked up a knife, âIâll buy one from you. Speak your piece.â
âYour fate is not good, showing signs of early demise,â JI Xingzhi observed her thoroughly, leisurely commenting, âEveryone has their luck, large or small, but the luck on you is not yours, though not much, it obscures your own.â
âThis borrowed luck has greatly aided you. You practice martial arts, right? Have you sometimes performed moves you didnât know or experienced sudden bursts of strength, without knowing where it came from afterward?â
Ji Qingyao fell silent, gripping the knife tighter.
The blade pierced her palm, and blood dripped drop by drop.
JI Xingzhi was startled, âYou shouldnât harm yourself if you canât accept it; I canât treat injuries.â
âItâs a minor wound,â Ji Qingyao said calmly, then slowly raised her head, âIs there a way to return this luck?â
JI Xingzhi paused, then his gaze sharpening, ââAre you really going to return it? Think it through carefully. This borrowed luck has been nourishing your physique. Once you give it back, your martial strength might be wasted, and thereâs even a chance of severe backlash, possibly leading to paralysis..â